[Silhouette of Captain Arthur Wakefield]

Object Detail

Description

Silhouette, cut-out black paper with watercolour detail, adhered to rectangular white card. The image depicts a full length profile portrait of a standing Captain Arthur Wakefield (1799-1843). He wears a cap on his head. He stands with one arm holding a cane over his shoulder. One leg is extended with heel raised, the other leg straight with foot flat to the ground. There is slight detailing in the face of an eye and mouth, and there is gold highlighting added to the cane and socks.

Captain Arthur Wakefield was the Leader of the Nelson preliminary expedition, arriving in New Zealand in 1841. He became the New Zealand company resident agent in Nelson and leader of the settlement. His life was cut short after land contract negotiations with tangata whenua deteriorated. His body lies in a common grave in the Tua Marina Cemetery.